Few quilting artists have all the time they want for creating fiber art & quilts. But accomplishing more--while still enjoying it and doing a good job--is often a matter of efficiency rather than speed. Here are some ways to work smarter and more efficiently without rushing or taking shortcuts that...

What does the terms " sewing appliques " mean to you? Do you think of hand applique? Machine applique? The applique stitch? An example of raw-edge applique by Jane LaFazio. There are many types of applique, from the traditional by-hand techniques to the fused or raw-edge applique methods preferred...

A Note from Vivika: Our online editor, Cate Prato, has recently delved into traditional quilting techniques including adventures in binding. I asked her to share her experience with you . When it comes to quilt finishing , I've always resorted to an easy quilt binding like the pillowcase method....

Many people--me among them--admire Jane LaFazio's approach to quilt making . She has a way of combining hand stitching, machine stitching, surface design, mixed-media, and even machine needle felting to create beautiful and unusual pieces of fiber art. Jane is diligent about keeping a sketchbook...

Did you resolve to make more fiber art this year? Learn new sewing techniques ? Decrease the size of your scrap stash? Finish your UFOs? Easy piecing and straight-line quilting will use up small pieces of fabric and turn them into a modern tote. By Jean Wells, featured in Make it! Patchwork . Last year...

Hello, and welcome to stop 4 on our week-long Ho-Ho-Holiday Gift Guide for Quilters! Today I'm sharing some of my favorite gift ideas to make for your friends and family, as well as gifts for quilters that would be welcome at your guild's holiday party swap--or under your own tree. To add to...

As the days grow shorter here in New England, we're drawn to the warmth of firelight: from candles flickering inside grinning jack-o-lanterns to cozy nights by hearth. This is the time when I like to make fabric crafts with my kids and home décor fiber art projects to welcome friends and family...

How do you find time to work on your fabric art ? It's a question I hear often (sometimes in my own head). Turn painted fabric into fabric art in 5 minutes. We'd all love hours to spend in our studios--but that's not realistic for most who aren't full-time artists. So how do you find...

Spring is such a busy time of year: graduations, wedding showers, barbecues, the end of the school year, and so on. It seems I always need an idea for a quick gift for a teacher, hostess, or guest of honor. That's when my bin of fabric scraps and list of fabric art projects come to the rescue. A...

"Quilt as desired." Those directions, often found at the end of a tutorial on making a quilt or a quilted project, can be freeing or frustrating. There are so many quilting techniques to choose from, how do you decide what works best? The echo quilting in this portrait by Maria Elkins helps...

What's black and white and fun all over? One of Jamie Fingal's quilts. "A Slice of Old Town Charm" by Jamie Fingal. This fused piece has no traditional quilt binding, just stitching along the edge. Jamie considers herself a rebel quilter , saying "no" to batting, bindings...

When I started hand stitching as a girl, I focused on traditional techniques like counted cross stitch and projects like samplers. It wasn't until many years later that I realized I could take my hand stitches anywhere I wanted them to go, without following a pre-determined pattern. Helen Parrott...

When you make a quilt, at some point you will have to consider the quilt binding . You may opt for an elaborate binding that makes an impact on the overall design, a simple and subtle binding, or no binding at all. When binding a small quilt, such as a postcard, it's usually best to keep it simple...

While Vivika is on leave, guest bloggers are filling in, and we're also revisiting some of our readers' favorite posts. This one , Vivika's first as editor of Quilting Arts , looks at how she makes her bird quilts look so realistic through fabric choice and sewing techniques. ~Kristine Lundblad...

Our foremothers knew how to make a quilt using only what they had, from scraps of fabric to natural dyes. But, quilt making the frugal and eco-friendly way was easier for them: they didn't have much of a choice. Pioneer women didn't have fabric stores, and even our own mothers didn't have...